Dermatitis herpetiformis sera or goat anti-transglutaminase-3 transferred to human skin-grafted mice mimics dermatitis herpetiformis immunopathology.

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is characterized by deposition of IgA in the papillary dermis. However, indirect immunofluorescence is routinely negative, raising the question of the mechanism of formation of these immune deposits. Sárdy et al.

IgA autoimmune disorders: development of a passive transfer mouse model.

IgA is present in the skin in several dermatoses, including dermatitis herpetiformis, linear IgA bullous dermatosis, and Henoch-Schoenlein purpura. The neutrophilic infiltration in the area of the IgA deposition suggests that IgA is responsible for the associated inflammatory events. The mechanism for this process is unproven, but is likely to involve IgA-mediated neutrophil chemotaxis with inhibition of chemotaxis by dapsone.